clip from article: Obama on Friday declared the U.S. and its allies would consider 'every tool available' to stop the slaughter of innocent people in Syria, using his most forceful words to date in response to an increasingly grim crisis that has gripped the world.

The president did not give specifics about what the U.S. or other countries would do to help. Lacking international consensus on any armed confrontation, and with Syrian President Bashar Assad unyielding, the United States has only limited options and leverage.

'It is absolutely imperative for the international community to rally and send a clear message to President Assad that it is time for a transition,' Mr Obama said after a meeting with the Danish prime minister. 'It is time for that regime to move on. And it is time to stop the killing of Syrian citizens by their own government.'